Essential Oil Safety Guide

Essential Oil Ages Photosensitive CAUTION Drug Interraction? Note

Angelica Yes

caution with high blood

pressure & epilepsy
Basil Do not use if pregnant medications
Bergamot All Yes Best refrigerated to slow oxidation

Can cause slowed respiration or

breathing problems in some
Cardamom 10+ years children
Carrot Seed All Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding

Do not use if taking aspirin, have bleeding disorders,

and before or after surgery as it inhibits blood clotting.

Do not use if pregnant (embryotoxic) or breastfeeding

Inhale: All aspirin, blood thinners,
Cassia Topical: 2+ years Do not use on damaged or broken skin diabetes medication
Drugs metabolized by
CYP2D6, CYP1A2,
CYP2C9, or CYP3A4

analgesics, antiarrhythmics,
antipsychotics, antidepressants Best
refrigerated to slow oxidation
Chamomile (German) All

Do not use if taking aspirin, have bleeding disorders,

and before or after surgery as it inhibits blood clotting.
aspirin, blood thinners,
Cinnamon Bark All Do not use if pregnant (embryotoxic) or breastfeeding diabetes medication
aspirin, blood thinners,
Do not use if taking aspirin, have bleeding disorders, pethidine, MAOIs, or
Cinnamon Leaf All and before or after surgery as it inhibits blood clotting. SSRIs
 Drugs metabolized by
Citronella All CYP2B6
Clary Sage Do not use if pregnant

Essential Oil Ages Photosensitive CAUTION Drug Interraction? Note

aspirin, blood thinners,

pethidine, MAOIs, or
SSRIs

Do not use if taking aspirin, have bleeding disorders, anticonvulsants

and before or after surgery as it inhibits blood clotting. antidepressants
Inhale: All
Clove Topical: 2+ years Do not use on damaged or broken skin Ephedrine (diet drug)
Cumin Yes

Dill diabetes medication

Can cause slowed respiration or

breathing problems in some
Eucalyptus 10+ years children
caution with high blood
pressure & epilepsy
medications diabetes
medications
Fennel Do not use if pregnant
diabetes medication or
drugs metabolized by
Geranium All CYP2B6.
Do not use if taking aspirin, have bleeding disorders,
and before or after surgery as it inhibits blood clotting.

Ginger Yes Do not use on damaged or broken skin aspirin, blood thinners
Grapefruit All Yes Best refrigerated to slow oxidation

Helichrysm aspirin, blood thinners

 caution with high blood
pressure & epilepsy
Hyssop Do not use if pregnant medications
Do NOT add to water. Long-term use of essential oils
consumed this way can cause permanent damage to If steam distilled not
your esophagus, increase your risk of developing ulcers, photosentitive; best refrigerated to
Lemon All Yes (cold pressed) or even cause kidney and liver distress or failure slow oxidation
Drugs metabolized by
Avoid using on hyersentive, diseased, damaged, or CYP2B6 or
broken skin. diabetes medication
Inhale: All anticonvulsants
Lemongrass Topical: 2+ years Avoid using internally if pregnant

Essential Oil Ages Photosensitive CAUTION Drug Interraction? Note

Do NOT add to water. Long-term use of essential oils

consumed this way can cause permanent damage to If steam distilled not
your esophagus, increase your risk of developing ulcers, photosentitive; best refrigerated to
Lime All Yes (cold pressed) or even cause kidney and liver distress or failure slow oxidation
diabetes medication or
drugs metabolized by
CYP2B6.

Inhale: All Avoid using on hyersentive, diseased, damaged, or anticonvulsants

Melissa Topical: 2+ years broken skin. antidepressants
Myrrh 2+ years Do no use if Pregnant or breastfeeding (fetotoxic)

caution with high blood

pressure & epilepsy
medications blood
thinners, aspirin

Nutmeg Do not use if pregnant Ephedrine (diet drug)

Orange, Wild Yes

Do not use if taking aspirin, have bleeding disorders,

and before or after surgery as it inhibits blood clotting.
Inhale: All diabetes medication, aspirin,
Oregano Topical: 2+ years blood thinners
 Do not use if Pregnant or breastfeeding (embryotoxic)

Do not use if taking aspirin, have bleeding disorders, diabetes medication, aspirin,
Patchouli All and before or after surgery as it inhibits blood clotting. blood thinners
May cause milk supply to decrease
during breastfeeding if used
Avoid taking internally if you have cholestasis or GERD liberally
caution with high blood pressure & epilepsy High
NEVER use if if you have G6PD deficiency (a common menthol content stimulates medications cold receptors
Peppermint 6+ years genetic enzyme deficiency) or cardiac fibrillation in the lungs and can
caution with epilepsy
medications
Can cause slowed respiration or
Inhale: 10+ years avoid with high blood breathing problems in some
Rosemary Topical: 10+ years Do not use if pregnant pressure medicatoins children

Essential Oil Ages Photosensitive CAUTION Drug Interraction? Note

caution with epilepsy medications

avoid with high blood pressure

medicatoins
Sage Do not use if pregnant
Drugs metabolized by
CYP2D6, CYP1A2, or CYP3A4

caution with high blood pressure

& epilepsy medications

antiarrhythmics antidepressants

Tansy All
caution with high blood pressure
& epilepsy medications
Tarragon Do not use if pregnant
 Do not use if taking aspirin, have bleeding disorders,
and before or after surgery as it inhibits blood clotting.

Do not use if have salicylate sensitivity, ADD/ADHD

Avoid using internally unless under the care of a

Wintergreen professional, toxicity risk is very high with this oil aspirin, blood thinners
Inhale: All Avoid using on hyersentive, diseased, damaged, or
Ylang Ylang Topical: 2+ years broken skin.
Sources:
Lea Harris http://www.usingeossafely.com/
http://blog.selahessentialoils.com/2015/02/possible-interactions-with-prescription.html
A Beginner's Guide to Essential Oils by Tonia Lyons http://dr-lobisco.com/essentialoil-
druginteractions/ https://www.mommypotamus.com/safe-essential-oils-babies-children/
https://wellnessmama.com/26519/risks-essential-oils/